Amman, Jordan (CNN) - After more than a decade of working on issues of psychological trauma related to war and displacement, researcher and practitioner of trauma recovery, migration, and violence prevention, Michael Nikonchuk, believes that the experience of war among men, especially Syrian refugees, cannot be reduced to a single psychological diagnosis, especially when years of violence, displacement, and loss of safety overlap with experiences of humiliation, detention, and captivity.
Nikonchuk, who is the general director of the Inner Safety Project and worked for about 3 years in the Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan, said in an interview with the CNN Arabic website in Amman that many men who lived through the years of war did not necessarily move to a stable life after leaving the conflict areas, but rather continued to live under “chronic and continuous” psychological pressure, indicating that dealing with the effects of war cannot simply assume that the shock ended once they reached a safer place.
Nikonchuk participated in the War Traumas Conference 2026, which was held in Amman during September, under the patronage of Princess Ghida Talal, and organized by the Early Light Foundation in cooperation with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, and with the participation of experts, researchers and practitioners in mental health, war trauma and humanitarian work.
Nikonchuk, who has worked and continues to work extensively with Syrian refugee communities and war survivors in other regions, said that many traditional models in psychology assume that the war has ended and the person has moved to a safe place before the symptoms of trauma begin to appear, pointing out that many regions in the Middle East cannot be said to have ended the post-traumatic phase.
Nikonchuk explained that a man who has lived through war and displacement may simultaneously carry the effects of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, along with feelings associated with a loss of safety, ability, and control over his life. Therefore, he does not believe that starting with a diagnosis alone is sufficient to understand what the survivor is going through. Rather, dealing with him should begin through other questions: What does he want to know about himself? What does he want to understand about his suffering? What is happening in his inner life?
Humiliation is a wound that is difficult to talk about
Nikonchuk places the experience of humiliation at the forefront of many of the traumas that men are exposed to during wars, detention, and captivity, noting that it is one of the most difficult human experiences.
He pointed out that talking about humiliation is more difficult for men, given the social expectations required of them, such as the ability to be strong, protect their families, and bear responsibility. A man may find it difficult to admit that he felt weak, afraid, or humiliated, even when these feelings are an essential part of his experience.
Nikonchuk stressed the importance of using stories to reach feelings that are difficult to express directly, as they can be reached through characters based on real experiences.
Speaking about arrest and imprisonment, Nikonchuk said that the experience is harsh, whether it lasts one day or years, especially since its impact is not only related to the duration of detention, but rather to the brokenness, humiliation, and deprivation of a person’s sense of dignity and ability to control his life.
Restoring the role after captivity
Nikonchuk pointed out that one of the most important elements of recovery after arrest is that the person regains his feeling that he is useful and has a role in society, especially since imprisonment may cut him off for a period from work, study, supporting the family, and caring for children.
He believed that helping the survivor regain his sense of being a wanted person with value and a role in his family and community could in itself be part of the recovery process, and not just a subsequent result of treatment.
